Manchester City may be in the market for another midfielder at the end of the season, with Fernandinho set to turn 36.
Rodri has struggled at times this season, so adding another holding midfield player to anchor Pep Guardiola’s side moving forward.
One name that could be of interest is Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz, given that City have a buy-back clause on the Brazilian.
City signed Luiz from Vasco da Gama in 2017, but sent him on loan to Girona for two years before selling him to Villa in 2019.
City did though insert a buy-back clause into the deal, and Eurosport now claim that City are interested in activating that option.
Luiz, 22, has been superb this season, dictating play from in front of the back four whilst also showing that he is prepared to get stuck in.
The Brazilian has been key to Villa’s promising start this season, and Villa now want to give him a new contract to try and convince him to stay.
Boss Dean Smith has suggested that talks are ongoing with Luiz and he wants him on a long-term deal alongside Ezri Konsa; that won’t stop City’s buy-back clause, but may just convince him to stay if City do come calling.
“There will be ongoing discussions with the sporting director, and representatives of our players. That is something ongoing all the time at the club,” said Smith. “I’m not sure who we’re talking to but Douglas is obviously one who I think has a big future at this football club. Ezri Konsa is another one, but a lot of our players are on long-term contracts anyway. We’ve got a lot of players tied up looking at the future,” he added.
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